Survey Says...What?

One of my favorite quotes of all times is one which is variously attributed to Benjamin Disraeli, Alfred Marshall, Mark Twain and many others - is the saying There are three types of lies. Lies, damn lies, and statistics. Surveys and their inherent statistics make their way into popular opinion and their very nature are flawed with questions which create further misconception. In other words, the narrative of the questionnaire is a set up. Often it depends on the expected conclusion of the entity conducting the survey. I want a result to support my conclusion...what questions can I ask to get it? A simple remedy to such a con-game is just think for yourselves folks. If the logical answer is not there among the choices and your BS detector starts to go off, look for your nearest exit.

Here is a clear example with such bias. In this case, bias is exposed as Darwin theory as there is no such thing. The creator of the survey reveals not only their bias, but their lack of grasp on the matter. That is like saying Einstein theory for gravity. Faraday theory for electromagnetism. Marconi theory for radio transmission. See the point? It is rather silly. These natural phenomena exist whether man is around or not to discover them. We as humans just relatively got around to discovering them. It would be a little arrogant on our part to suggest otherwise.

Instead, why not ask if one believes if organized, tax exempt religions/businesses are and have been inherently corrupt? Maybe ask if their patrons look to God instead of themselves as if he were some sort of concierge, for a fee - paid to the church? How exactly do you go from God to origin? Connecting God to organized and demonstratively corrupt religious business? Perhaps that in itself would be valid line of questions to explore. Rationality is not easy. It is far easier to throw the towel in and presume someone or something else other than yourself is in charge. Some call that faith.

Taxes and Those Who Evade Them

There has been much talk lately about tax cuts. Who deserves a cut? Who does not? Those who pay taxes? Those who do not? Is there such a thing? Critics argue back and forth who is deserving of such so-called tax cuts, tax rebates, or economic stimulus packages. But who are these critics anyway? It occurs to me while driving the children to their public school down a public highway, past a certain section, there are always orange cones set up and the or local police department is directing traffic into a local private Christian school from the center turn lane. I find this somewhat ironic if not irritating. I know that on Saturdays and Sundays, off duty officers can volunteer and most churches will reimburse for fuel and general wear on the vehicles. But these are not off duty officers and vehicles are tied up. This is a daily ritual and this tax exempt organization does not have to employ private personnel nor purchase a traffic signal. As I continue to drive to the public school, I think about the property tax bill due this month, the sales tax rate which always seems to be going up, the monthly HOA dues to pay for our community, the bonds for our public schools and roads, and the federal income tax time coming up.

I kiss the kids goodbye as I drop them off at the local 'robin hood' Texas public school. I take a sip of my coffee and begin my commute to work to help subsidize efforts to replace science in the classroom with a perversion of the Flintstones well knowing that at this exact same time, this type of 'tax dollars at work' event is happening on another stretch of highway only a few miles away. I take another sip and speed up a little.